about us
Rivers of Life Ministries is a Christ-centred, Spirit-led church based in Cape Town, committed to preaching the Word of God, cultivating prayer, and building a community rooted in unity and spiritual growth. We are passionate about raising believers who are vessels of honour — transforming lives and impacting nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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We are part of the United Apostolic Faith Church (UAFC), a broader apostolic movement committed to sound doctrine, revival, and biblical governance. Through this spiritual covering, we remain aligned, accountable, and connected to a greater body of churches working together to advance the Kingdom of God.
UAFC HISTORY
Around the year 1900, God began to pour out His Spirit in the USA, marked by the sign of speaking in tongues. This movement was referred to as the “Apostolic Faith” because it resembled the experience of the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. The “Apostolic Faith” movement quickly spread throughout the USA and Canada, and by 1908, it reached Sunderland, Britain, where an Anglican minister was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Men who sought more of God travelled to Sunderland and received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, including individuals like Smith Wigglesworth and W.O. Hutchinson from Bournemouth.
Hutchinson returned to Bournemouth and established a mission. Many others, hungry for more of God, visited this mission to witness what God was doing. Among these visitors was James Brooke, a Baptist minister in Bournemouth. Together, these men, including Brooke and Hutchinson, established the first Pentecostal church in Great Britain, which they called the Apostolic Faith Church.
Although this “Tongues Movement” was rejected by historic churches, the Apostolic churches grew rapidly and spread worldwide under various names. This movement became known as the Pentecostal Movement.
In 1912, James Brooke was sent to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he planted many churches over the next ten years. Upon his return to England in 1922, he found that Hutchinson had backslidden, and many Welsh churches had separated to form the Apostolic Church of Great Britain. W.G. Hatherway and others also left to form the Elim Pentecostal Church. In 1926, James Brooke and other devoted men established the United Apostolic Faith Church (UAFC) with its headquarters in London.
In 1938, Leonard Brooke, son of James Brooke, returned to South Africa to continue his father’s work. The mission expanded rapidly, establishing churches both in cities and rural areas. Today, the UAFC operates in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, and Rivers of Life Ministries is under the covering of the United Apostolic Faith Church.
CHURCH STRUCTURE
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The governing structure of the United Apostolic Faith Church (UAFC) is as follows:
• General Church Council (GCC): Comprised of all ordained UAFC elders in South Africa, this council is governed by the Word of God and a constitution. The GCC meets annually in Pretoria under the leadership of the General Overseer and General Secretary to discuss matters concerning the denomination. All elders are expected to attend.
• Executive Council (EXCO): Elected annually by the GCC, the EXCO implements the decisions and recommendations of the GCC. EXCO members may stand for re-election.
• General Overseer and General Secretary: These leaders are elected biannually, alternating years for each office. Both may stand for re-election.
• Conference Presbyteries: The UAFC in South Africa is divided into three major Conference Presbyteries based on language: African, Afrikaans, and English. This division helps avoid the need for interpreters during meetings and conferences.
• Districts: Each Conference Presbytery is subdivided into Districts overseen by District Ministers, who are accountable to their respective Conference Presbyteries. District Ministers serve a five-year term and may stand for re-election.
• Local Congregations: Each congregation is led by a local pastor, supported by elders and deacons who are appointed over time. Pastors and elders must submit an application to their Conference Presbytery annually for permission to continue serving after the age of 65. Elders and deacons do not automatically retain their positions when moving to new congregations unless requested by the EXCO or Presbytery.
• UAFC Board of Trustees: All fixed assets of the UAFC are held by the UAFC Board of Trustees. Local congregations may appoint their own Boards of Trustees to work in conjunction with the UAFC Board.
• Apostles: All ordained apostles of the UAFC have the authority to sit on any Presbytery, council, or meeting by virtue of their office.